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Stormers lock Andries Bekker.
Johannesburg – Stormers lock Andries Bekker will move to Japanese club Kobelco Steelers at the conclusion of the 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby season, the Western Cape franchise announced on Friday.
Bekker, the most capped Stormers player in the Super Rugby competition, aimed to prolong his professional rugby career with the move to Japan.
“I'd like to thank everyone at Western Province for their incredible support over the years,” said Bekker, who has 29 Test caps for the Springboks.
“It will be a sad time when I do leave Cape Town, but my wife, Elaine, and I are excited about the adventures that lie ahead.
“I'm particularly excited about joining up with my fellow South Africans at Kobelco Steelers – players like Peter Grant and Jaque Fourie have had nothing but great things to say about the club.”
The 29-year-old will be available for the knockout stages of the Super Rugby campaign, but the move will place his Springbok career on hold.
“It was a tough decision for me to make,” Bekker said.
“I've spent my entire professional rugby career in Cape Town, but at this stage of my life, I felt it would be best to further my career abroad and to embark on a new adventure – both as a person and a rugby player.
“That said, we're just three games into the Super Rugby season... it's still a long season ahead of us and I'd love nothing more than to end my Stormers career on a high.”
The mobile second rower made his Stormers debut in 2005, and with 97 Super Rugby caps, he could become the first player to reach the 100-match landmark for the Western Cape franchise.
“The Bekker name is synonymous with WP and Stormers rugby, through Andries and his father, Hennie, before him. It will be the end of an era when Andries departs for Japan,” said Western Province Rugby CEO Rob Wagner.
“We have seen Andries grow from a gangly schoolboy into a strapping Springbok.
“However, at this stage of his career a move abroad is in his best interests.” – Sapa
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